IELTS Band 7+ Vocabulary

a bitter dispute a blessing in disguise a burning question a calculated risk a causal link a common misconception a compelling argument a compelling case a concerted effort a contentious issue a crucial role a daunting task a deep-rooted problem a deep-seated belief a deep-seated fear a defining feature a delicate balance a detrimental effect a divisive issue a double-edged sword a driving force a feasible option a fighting chance a fine line a foregone conclusion a fundamental difference a fundamental flaw a glaring error a glaring omission a grey area a growing awareness a growing concern a growing trend a heated debate a heightened sense a key driver a knee-jerk reaction a last resort a lasting effect a lasting impression a lasting legacy a legitimate concern a marked difference a marked improvement a moot point a notable exception a nuanced view a pivotal role a plausible explanation a pressing concern a pressing matter a pressing need a profound impact a profound sense a realistic prospect a recurring theme a remote possibility a renewed interest a root cause a saving grace a sharp decline a sobering reminder a stark contrast a stark reality a stark warning a steady increase a steep learning curve a striking similarity a strong correlation a stumbling block a subtle difference a sweeping change a sweeping statement a tangible benefit a tenuous link a thorny issue a turning point a valid point a vested interest a vexed question a viable alternative a vicious attack a vicious cycle a vicious rumour a watershed moment a widespread belief account for all in all all things considered an adverse effect an integral part an ulterior motive an uphill battle anecdotal evidence as far as I'm concerned as opposed to as things stand at the end of the day be conducive to bear in mind bear the brunt blow up bow out branch out break down break up bring in bring out broadly speaking brush aside brush off build up burn out by all accounts by and large by no means by the same token call on carry on carry out carry over chalk up check in churn out clean up close down come apart come in come off come out come to think of it compelling evidence conclusive evidence conventional wisdom crop up cut off cut off from cut out dish out drag on draw a distinction draw up dress up drown out drum up factor in fall back on far-reaching consequences fend off few and far between figure out flesh out follow up for all intents and purposes for the most part for what it's worth fork out gather momentum get away get back get in get into get on get out of get over get through give in give in to gloss over gloss over go ahead go along go around go by go off go on go out go over go through grow out of hammer out hand down hand in hand out hand over hang on hash out have a bearing on hinge on hold back hold off hold on hold on to hold out if anything in a nutshell in essence in hindsight in light of in practice in principle in the grand scheme of things in the long run in the same vein it goes without saying keep off keep on keep up kick off knock down knock out lash out lay off lay out lend itself to let alone let down let on level off look back on look up make out make up map out mess up mix up more often than not more to the point mounting pressure mull over nail down needless to say not to mention on balance on the flip side open up opt out pander to paper over pass by peter out pick up pin down play down plough through pore over pose a challenge prop up pull off pull through put down put forward put together rack up ramp up reel off rein in roll back rope in run into run up against scale back shed light on shore up shrug off shut down shy away from sift through size up smooth over so to speak sort out sound out spell out stack up stamp out stand by stand out stave off stem from stick out stick to stir up tail off take back take in take its toll take off take on take over take to tap into that being said thrash out tide over tie up time and again to a certain extent to a lesser extent to put it simply to that end tone down trickle down turn out turn over turn to turn up undivided attention undue influence usher in voice concern wade through ward off water down wear off weed out weigh in when all is said and done when it comes to while away whip up widespread support win over wind up with regard to with that in mind work on wrestle with wriggle out of write up zero in on